ANGIE - "Love"

Angie Q. Ramirez

English 9

Ms. Henderson

October 30, 2017  

Teacher’s Death

In Maxwell’s short story “Love,” foreshadowing is used repeatedly to warn the reader about the young, beautiful, caring teacher’s tragic death. First, Maxwell gives clues when Miss Brown will soon fall ill when he introduces her. “The name [Miss Vera Brown] might as well have been graven in stone” (Maxwell 8). Here the reader thinks of a cemetery. Maxwell is giving details of her name being on a tombstone, which a young person does not have. He indicates that her death will come soon. Next, the author gives signs to the reader that Miss Brown will pass away when he describes her difficulty opening a present. “Her [Miss Brown’s] delicate fingers seemed to take forever to remove the ribbon” (Maxwell 8). This makes the reader think of a skeleton. The writer describes her bony fingers when she is opening the present, which is unusual for a healthy person. This clue/image indicates that Miss Brown will soon die. Lastly, the writer is indicating that Miss Brown is near death when the students go visit her. “Propped up on pillows on a big double bed was our teacher, but so changed. Her arms were like sticks, and all the life in her seems concentrated in her eyes, which had dark circles around them” (Maxwell 10). Here the author shows that she’s transformed to a sick person. Maxwell is describing her weak body and how different she looks. She is like a corpse now. The author of “Love” utilizes hints to fill in about the awful downfall of the lovely, graceful and charming educator.